BATANGAS CITY — Critical projects and contingency plans for Taal Volcano topped the agenda in the 1st Quarter Meeting of the Batangas Association of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (BALDRRMO) held at the provincial capitol planning and development conference hall here last Monday.
Batangas Public Information Office (PIO) chief Jenelyn A. Aguilera on Monday told Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the association, which is comprised of various DRRMOs of Batangas province’s 30 towns and three component cities, has drawn up specific concerns in any eventuality of the Taal Volcano’s activity.
Aguilera said BALDRRMO members are gearing up their local disaster risk reduction and management council plans, programs and projects, which tackled proposed critical projects, contingency plan for Taal Volcano, the earthquake swarm which hit Batangas in April last year, and the hydromet or the hydrological-meteorological plan.
According to the PIO head, the hydromet plan includes designated pick-up points in the event of a disaster, evacuation centers, evacuation routes, relief distribution and stock pile locations and the conditions of the Pansipit River.
Governor Hermilando Mandanas graced the first association meeting this year and underscored the importance of the LDRRMOs role in disaster preparedness, safety and emergency response during disasters or calamities.
Mandanas also urged the DRMMOs to identify and monitor the local situations on their disaster preparedness plans and emergency response and strengthen collaboration, coordination, cooperation and communication with the provincial governments on the LGUs’ needs and request for assistance.
He thanked the participation of the LDRRMOs for their collaborative convergence to plan and harmonize programs and projects in disaster preparedness and the impacts of disasters brought about by climate change.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Joselito Castro and BALDRRMO president Rodrigo Dela Roca of Batangas City spearheaded the gathering with Office of the Civil Defense Region 4-A chief of the planning section Alex Czar R. Masiglat and Georgina R. Garcia, Chief of the DRRM Division as resource persons.
The OCD regional officials briefed DRRMOs on the activities and operations of the Calabarzon Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and management Council (RDRRMC).
They also conducted orientation on the OCD’s incentive “Kalasag Awards” for the Local Government Units (LGUs) who are implementing DRMMO best practices and local initiatives as climate change resilient communities.
The meeting also assessed on the 2008 1st Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill held Feb. 15 and presented the PDRRMO website where vital information on disaster risk reduction and management and response activities are uploaded by the various DRRMOs in cities and towns. (Saul Pa-a/PNA)
